A report that exposed worrying living conditions for asylum seekers placed in Newcastle hotels has been delivered to the Home Secretary.
Suella Braverman has been sent a copy of an investigation conducted by councillors, which found that refugees in the city had been left “vulnerable” and without fresh food or appropriate medical facilities. The inquiry, first published last year, also aired concerns over a lack of basic Covid-19 protection during the pandemic, hotels being targeted by far-right groups, and the living situation reminding torture victims of being in prison.
In a letter to Mrs Braverman, Lib Dem councillor Wendy Taylor highlighted worries over the Home Office using hotels to house asylum seekers and people having to live in them for more than 30 days. Coun Taylor, who chairs Newcastle City Council’s health scrutiny committee, said the investigation had exposed safeguarding concerns and “ the Home Office’s lack of response to reports and alerts”.
